Progress made in cleaning up Michigan Central Station, owners say

Jun. 11, 2014

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Detroit Free Press Business Writer

Aerial View of the Michigan Central Station in Detroit on Thursday, June 14, 2012. / Romain Blanquart/Detroit Free Press

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The derelict Michigan Central Station may still rank as Detroit’s most notorious eyesore, but progress has been made in cleaning it up, the owners said this week.

Mickey Blashfield, director of governmental relations for NBIT, the Moroun-family concern that oversees the train station in southwest Detroit, said that over $4 million has been spent so far to clean up the interior and secure the structure.

Electricity service to the building’s interior was restored in 2012. Interior demolition work, including asbestos removal and water removal, has been underway since 2011.

On Tuesday, Blashfield said in a statement that the owners were applying for a city permit to install a service elevator at the train station.

“A new freight elevator is the next step of work on the venerable Michigan Central Depot and will allow the smooth installation of windows and roof work as we continue to prepare the building for a new day,” Blashfield said in a statement.

“As with the rehabilitation of any historic structure, it always takes more time and money than first expected. In addition to applying for the building permits we are keeping City of Detroit officials updated on our progress and plans.”